MERRY CHRISTMAS TO US ALL.

Morris : Had a great week. Lots of eating, walking and playing with presents. Well some of them. The hats aren't quite my scene.

Tried to look Gangsta but couldn't be bothered! Too tired. Had been smelling one of my favorite foods but our ban on protein meant we only got a nibble!!!

Other than that, excitement got the better of me and I just slept!!!

Mabel : He pretends he's a bit "Bah Humbug " about Christmas but he actually enjoys it!! The early morning walk with Pam and Ewen,

Breakfast up the hill,

opening our presents,

wearing silly hats and scarves

and generally being goofy.

Very festive. Loved it.

ALMOST THERE!!

Morris : It's been a busy week. We went present shopping with Ewen and then helped him wrap some. However, I'm more interested in the fact that Ewen's been doing a lot of cooking. Like my hero, I do like being in the kitchen. The smells are amazing. Every now and again I get to test something. Mind you, since the protein cut back, it doesn't happen so much. We went round the golf course the other day and it was lovely to see a chair has been installed in memory of our neighbour, Ian Scott.

Mabel : It is certainly beginning to feel like Christmas even if the weather isn't festive. The shopping was fun. Morris was an utter embarrassment when we were delivering cards. He pee-ed. Even at the vets he stood and pee-ed.

I couldn't look the nurse in the face. Hung my head.

When we got home I just cuddled into my fave place and tried to forget the shame!!!

INJURIES AND HATS!

Mabel : I have been limping on and off all week. At first we thought it was my paw, then my wrist. At hydro on Thursday, Katie said my shoulder is still tight and I don't like extending it. Pam and Ewen have put a support brace on my leg and have ordered a lovely pair of greyhound boots. Can't wait for them to arrive. I'm not allowed off the lead because I just start to run like a maniac. I don't limp when I run but it just makes my limp worse. We also had to wear Christmas hats and scarves when we went out Christmas card delivering. Mmmmmm??!! My favourite place is still their bed.

Morris : It is absolute bliss for me, her being on the lead. I can trot about and not have to worry about her attacking me. I'm trying not to think about the day she is allowed off the lead!!!!! I have to say, I'm not impressed by this whole dressing up thing. Definitely not my style. I try to stop it by attempting the destrction of the red hats but if caught I end up wearing it. Much prefer Ewen's orange hat. He lost it the other day until Pam pointed out I was using it as a chin rest.

Had another lovely time of massages at hydro on Thursday. Won't see Katie till next year now!!!

MEMORIES.

Morris : I haven't had one accident this past 14 days. I am very happy but upset the pigs ears have disappeared. We get other stuff though. Been away to New Abbey again. It's the time of year Pam goes to visit her ancestors. We love it because we get to run about and even better....we get to go to the beach. We have to be very well behaved in the graveyard, of course.

Southerness is one of Ewen's happy places. They have a golf course there he loves. We have a run on the beach and then a walk on the course. Mabel tried to get to me but I just ignored her and went for a paddle.

We also went to visit Magnus's axe head at Wooplaw wood. I REALLY don't like it there. Brings back bad memories.

Mabel : What a woose. New Abbey and Southerness were brilliant. I found the trip to the woodland hysterical. It's three years since someone tried to abduct Morris. There we were and you could see he was scared. Kept glued to Ewen's leg. Kept looking around. Was twitchy at every noise. I told him to grow a pair (actually he did but then they disappeared). He was just a wee lad then, easy to pick up and carry away. He's 44Kg now and would probably wriggle a bit more!!! I did try to cheer him up but he was just happy to get home, cuddle into his furry and try to chew Ewen's hat. He then had to wear it. They're clearing a lot of the woodland after Storm Arwen. One of the big vehicles must have dunted Magnus's axehead. Ewen got it all fixed up and back in place. Put on a Christmas wreath.

PROTEIN!!

Morris: It's been a difficult week for me. First of all getting caught out as the phantom piddler. Then Pam and Ewen were out on Wednesday and Uncle Gavin came to check on us. He later commented that I could pee for Scotland. So they took me to the vet!!!. Got urine and bloods tested. I am normal but they have decided to take us right back to a proper Greyhound low protein diet as our Breeder recommended. A pigs' or rabbit ear everynow and again is fine but not everyday. It's actually scary how much protein there is in some snacks!! Gone vegetarian for treats. Hey ho! Then Pam started putting up xmas decorations. Lights and stuff everywhere. Everything is made worse by my sister constantly bollocking me about diet changes. All my fault apparently!!!!

Mabel : I don't know. He gets piddly and we all suffer. Pam and Ewen from worry and me for missing out on treats. One plus was our Xmas photo shoot. Styled by Pam and produced by Ewen. Now he's using it for advertising. I wonder if we get royalties??? Ewen says it's for a good cause since he donates the fees to Arthurshiels Pet Rescue. There are too many other people like us get abandoned at Christmas. It all helps. Turkey isn't high in protein is it?????

SNOW AND WIND!

Mabel : We have snow. I love it. Running about in it is just perfect. I can see the tracks of the deer and the rabbits. I am happy. It is also just amazing to get back home and all cuddled up in the warmth. We had a couple of nigts away, in Dunbar, for a wedding. It is always great to get home to your own bed. Or in this case, Pam and Ewen's. I am also feeling exonerated. I am not the piddler. AS IF!!

Morris: It is a tad chilly and windy outside. I really do lke the comfort of a good bed. Pam as now lined my day bed with a furry. I blend into it well and just adore getting snuggled. I have been unmasked!!!!!! Pam caught me last night. Since the clocks changed and Pam retired I've been trying to communicate with her. I usually wake Ewen up if I need to relieve myself outside. Rather than disturb him, particularly if he's working the next day, I go and stare at Pam. She thinks I'm trying to boss her to go to bed. I'm not. Eventually I give up and pee in the studio. She cottoned on last night, AT LAST!!! Unfortunately I had already started and couldn't stop. The Phantom Piddler struck again. Hopefully, it'll be the last.

GETTING FROSTY.

Mabel : It is getting colder. Pam puts our warm jackets on if she's taking us out. Bcause we run about more with Ewen we're still in the orange and yellow ones. Personally, I like the roasty toaty ones because the collar really helps when we have our heads out the window. Had hydro on Thursday. Loved the massage but can't be bothered with all this water walking. Got to wear my new microfibre towel coat. It was sooooo cosy. Other than that ??? Oh yes, Ewen is practising Beef Wellington for Christmas. It's brilliant and we get the trimmings off the beef. Rewarding!!!! Morris: I just like being with Ewen. Pam's okay and she gives us great cuddles and treats but Ewen is my man. We were all looking at videos of when we arrived at this home. Mabel was running about exploring but I was cuddled into Ewen. He's much better at walks than Pam. We were joimed by a spaniel puppy yesterday on one of our walks. I left Mabel to deal with him. Good grief that boy has energy. I stuck with Ewen as much as I could. Every now and again I'd show him I was 'The Big Dog'. Water off a dog's back!!! He'd just run after Mabel and she'd run circles round him. Have to admit that he does have a fair bit of pace himself. All youthful bounce and speed. He needs to learn to conserve it for the big chases though - like after a rabbit.

SO TIRED!

Morris and Mabel : This may have to stop. These long walks are just exhausting. They may walk 5-6 miles a day but we run 12-15, at least. This week we have hydro as well!!!!!! Going back to bed.

RETIRED!

Morris and Mabel : Pam retired on Tuesday. That's the fourth time apparently, but she says this is it. Went for a really long walk right round Lauder to celebrate. In fact we all enjoyed it so much, we did similar just about every morning Ewen wasn't working. Sunday was the best and the longest. We were so tired on Sunday we didn't know where to lie to get comfortable. We ended up together, on the furry, on the bed.

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MORGANISTMAS,

Morris and Mabel : Merry Morganistmas everyone. Been quiet this year. Usually have a houseload for dinner and we get turkey dinners. Getting the turkey but no big dinner this year. Lots of people doing other things, abroad, been in hospital, grandweans etc etc. For those who don't know Morganistmas is memory of another of P and E's dogs called Morgan, who LOVED Christmas. He was going to miss his last one so they brought it forward two months. Become a bit of a staple now. Anyway, getting a bit chillier so Pam put on our winter coats. We haven't had them on for over a year OOPS! buttons need moved.

OCTOBER HOLIDAY.

Morris : We have had a lovely week. Lots of time with Ewen and Pam. Travelling about, visiting places and getting to see Katie at Greenside. It's been great fun. We've been to the beach. We had a burger each as a treat. That was spectacular. It even had cheese. We had hydrotherapy on Thursday with Katie. It was so lovely to see her again. Just had to sit on her in the tank, as usual, and chill out as she massaged me. No wonder I could run so fast after that hare!!! Pam showed her the picture of Mabel chasing me on Goswick beach and she was very impressed by my leg extension.

Mabel : We have had a great week but he's missed some bits. We had a fab run meeting new people and dogs, on the beach at Musselburgh. Yes the burgers were great!! Then we had Katie. Pam has bought us new microfibre towel coats so we stay warm and dry quicker. I fell asleep. Then we had a brilliant walk round our new favourite field and we raised a hare. What an amazing chase. Really got to stretch out and show our pace. We worked really well as a pair but hares can jink around even quicker than I can and it went through a wall. Personally, I think that's cheating! Gutted to find out sheep are going in that field now too. He forgot we had a vet visit on Wednesday to Galedin. Both totally brilliant. Even our teeth are good. We got jabbed, but our vet, Fiona Meikle, did a great job. First time we've met her. Morris lay down on the floor and didn't pay much attention Embarrassing!!!!!

Before the hare!!!

After the hare!!

Morris and Mabel : We have now got our Remembrance poppies on our collar. Pam has ordered us purple poppies for all the animals who died in wars. We would have been messenger dogs in WW1 because we can both run really fast and we're camouflaged.

WINDOW DRESSING!

Mabel and Morris : It is restored. We had to give up some paw money for a new, metal rail but at least the curtains are back up. However, that Bengal cat has had its card marked!! Mabel : I did not improve my feminine status yesterday. I found a nice new deer poo. Its perfume overwhelmed me. Ewen was not happy. I was covered in poo on one side of my neck and shoulders. I was going to get hosed down but Pam said it was too cold outside so, for the first time, I was in the shower. Very pleasant. Warm. Cosy. Morris : She stank!!!

OOOOPS!!!!

Mabel and Morris : We are writing this together this week because neither of us wants to get the other into trouble by writing anything incriminating. We have been great all week. We have been much admired and praised, at least until tea time an Saturday.

Pam and Ewen went out for 15mins to drop some things at friends. We were alone and vulnerable when that Bengal cat strolled past the window. It takes the mickey out of us. We tried to get at it. We jumped on the curtains and the whole rail and caboodle came down. They weren't impressed. Fortunately we got it back up. Well they did. We hid in the bedroom until it was back up and it was safe to come out. One day that cat is going to get chased.

ABANDONED!

Morris and Mabel : We have been much left on our own this week. Pam and Ewen at work and out socialising wthout us. Been lavishly walked and fed but had to stay awake and be on watch while they were out. We were brought back treats but we do miss them. Mabel had to go back to bed she was so tired out.

LAST OF SUMMER.

Morris: Well that's it. We are now officially in autumn. But before the summer ended we had a couple of days of glorious sunshine and we went paddling and swimming to cool off. Fabulous stuff. Mabel still keeps trying to start a fight with me but I can't be bothered. It's more fun trotting along beside Pam and Ewen, sniffing the surroundings and catching biscuits. She's far too energetic. She has spectacular zoomies after she's been in water. Seriously mental running.

Mabel: He really is becoming far more grown up and boring. He saves his energy for chasing things other than me. I just want to play ALL the time. Mind you what with dislocated hips and strips torn off him I kinda understand where he's coming from. I love being in the water and then running really fast to try and shake it off. (as Taylor Swift would say.)

VERY TIRED.

Morris : It was great to get home. These rounds of golf are very tiring. We enjoyed them but the runs on the beach were better. Nice socializing with the other golfers though. We were very well behaved and much patted and praised. It was really chummy being with all the guys. Think Mabel felt a bit left out so she was pleased to get home to Pam for cuddles. Then just to tire us out more, we had hydro on Thursday.

Mabel : He's right, actually, it was very male!! I was the only girlie there. Stood up for myself though and made sure everyone paid attention to me. It was lovely getting home and getting lots of cuddles. I also thoroughly enjoyed going to see Katie again at hydrotherapy. It meant all the salt was rinsed out of my coat and I feel much softer again. Bad moment on Sunday when we found out that my favourite field is out of action. Very upset. We walked up to it on Sunday and I was really looking forward to a HUGE run. There were sheep in it!!!!! Really irritated. Those sheep get everywhere. Not happy!! Had to go for a run in the woods instead.